Nicholas Wootton might be unfamiliar to many, but as producer on NYPD Blue for over 100 episodes, he is ideally qualified to front Neagley. A spin-off series on Prime Video starring Maria Sten that has already been renewed for Season 2. With the aid of Nick Santora who adapted Reacher from the Lee Child books to the tune of a Season 6 renewal, Neagley not only hits the ground running, but feels like a natural successor once Reacher has run his course.
Fans of the one-man army have had three seasons to reach their verdict on Francis Neagley but realised instantly this was a piece of perfect casting. Sten gave her such self-assurance in those early seasons that an absence later was keenly felt. A fact that pointed to a spin-off been almost inevitable, since Alan Ritchson himself has turned his character into a ratings juggernaut.
As for Season 1 which dropped all at once, Neagley follows a similar structure to Reacher, unpacking gradually and adding layers as the series goes on. A family friend, a cult leader, and a conspiracy gets dealt with through an equal application of brains and brawn. Maria Sten has played this character so often now, that there are no first night nerves in her standalone show, and it instantly feels established.
Image Courtesy of Prime Video
Solid performances from an ensemble cast there to enable without overshadowing ensure Neagley feels polished. That self-assurance extends to a structure that building complexities into the plot giving this original series some substance. It also means that Neagley graduates from second tier support to driving force within her own expanding universe.
It will be no surprise that Alan Ritchson makes an appearance, because after all these are Reacher fans, but his moral support feels unnecessary and is soon forgotten as Maria Sten hits her stride. Greyston Holt steps into her Reacher role complementing rather than showboating, and their professional relationship unpacks organically under fire.
As for adversaries, Neagley is defined by her grey matter rather than mountainous muscle, meaning this original show runs a lot of dialogue sniffing out bad guys. Pieces slot together and it might all seem a little too convenient, but at no point does Neagley dumb things down. The storytelling ethos carried over from Reacher means this first season flies by delivering excitement in bit-sized amounts and whetting appetites for an imminent return.
For anyone who doubted the success of Neagley when it was first announced let this serve as a warning to the unfaithful. Maria Sten was a star as soon as Reacher Season 1 landed, it took the risk averse execs another two years to really roll the dice on what everyone else already knew.
Neagley Season 1 is out on Prime Video now.